Store clerk fatally shoots robbery suspect in N. Houston

Published 5:30 am, Friday, May 23, 2008

As a gas station attendant, "Ash" Hussain had heard the horror stories about convenience store robberies and deadly shootings. On Friday afternoon, he would find himself in just that situation.

Loaded with cash taken from the Texaco gas station in the 9400 block of North Freeway, the robbers left the store headed for their getaway car. The 22-year-old clerk had followed with his own pistol, hoping to get the vehicle's license plate number. Then one gunman turned and pointed his pistol at Hussain.

The clerk fatally shot him — something he thought he'd never have to do.

"This is a day I'll never forget," said Hussain, who has worked at the store for about a year and a half. "I wish it hadn't happened, but it did."

Authorities have not identified the dead man, who was found in a field about a quarter-mile from the store. Police dogs found his alleged accomplice hiding in a nearby abandoned trailer, said Houston Police Department Homicide Division investigator Dan Arnold.

Hussain recognized one of the men when the two walked in shortly after noon. He had come into the store before.

As Hussain rung up the Red Bull drinks they brought to the counter, he looked up to find one of the men holding a gun to his face and the other a knife.

"I thought it was a joke," Hussain said.

Clerk went outside

The man with the knife jumped over the counter, held the weapon to Hussain's ribs and began digging through the clerk's left pocket where Hussain said he kept the larger bills from the store.

"I guess they'd been watching me and that's how they knew I had money in there," he said. The men also took money from the register.

Hussain then pressed the store's panic button, grabbed his pistol and went outside to get a description of the robbers' vehicle.

When the gunman turned and saw Hussain, he pointed his pistol at the clerk — that's when Hussain began shooting.

"I was scared for my life," he said.

Multiple shots fired

The clerk said he believes he may have fired four shots before the robbers ran toward a bayou behind the business. Hussain said he did not know if any of the bullets had struck the man until he saw blood coming from the robber's shirt.

"I was trying to shoot at the car," he said. "When I actually shot, I didn't realize I was going to get him."

Kevin Redden, a regular customer at the Texaco and Hussain's friend, was driving by when he saw the shooting.The 35-year-old got out of his car to help.

"Why I jumped out, I don't know," Redden said. "It just seemed like the right thing to do."

As Hussain rushed back into the store to call police, Redden chased after the two men. He stopped when saw the shot man lying on the ground on Frazer Street, behind the bayou.

Redden, who has medical training from a previous job, tried to help the man, but said it was too late.

Firearms located

The alleged accomplice faces robbery charges. No charges have been filed against Hussain.

Two pistols were recovered at the scene, Arnold said late Friday, and investigators are trying to determine which one belonged to the robber.

He added that the stolen money had not yet been recovered.

While Hussain is relieved he was not harmed, he said he is upset the incident ended the way it did.